ANKARA - Hayati Kaytan, being held in prison for the last 19 years, has a dysfunctional right hand, toes of his left foot are cut and he has brain tumour.

Prisoners who are not released despite their serious illnesses are exposed to violations of rights by all state institutions, from hospital to prison. Hayati Kaytan, who is on the seriously ill prisoner list of the Human Rights Association (İHD), has struggled for access to treatment in 5 different prisons since 2003. During this time, he was subjected to torture and ill-treatment by both the hospitals and the prison administration. Kaytan, who is 60% disabled, has no function in his right hand, all of his left toes are cut due to frostbite, there are permanent wounds on the sole of his feet and a tumor in his brain.

THE SYRIAN REGIME DELIVERED HIM TO TURKEY

Kaytan, who was arrested in the city of Qamishlo by the Syrian regime in Syria in 2001, was handed over to Turkey in 2003 and and he was sent to Erzurum Prison. Kaytan was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment in 2005 and was first sent to Ankara No. 1 Type F Prison.

HE HAD THREE EPILEPTIC ATTACKS

Kaytan, who was transferred from Ankara to Kırıkkale Type F Prison, was taken to Ankara Numune Hospital in 2009 when he lost consciousness after three consecutive attacks. A bulk was detected in his brain and he underwent surgery. The hospital in question prepared a report for Kaytan, who was kept in the prison ward for two and a half months after the operation, arguing that his being in prison did not endanger his life.

BEING SENT FROM PRISON TO PRISON MADE HIM SICK

Kaytan had to go to Ankara for treatment every 3 months between 2009 and 2011 from Kırıkkale Type F Prison. Kaytan who had a herniated disk after being sent from prison to prison, later had cervical discal hernia due to these transfers. The Forensic Medicine Institute (ATK) gave a report that he could "stay in prison" for Kaytan, whose disease progressed day by day. In 2012, when the gap between doctor's appointment was extended to 6 months, Kırıkkale Prosecutor's Office asked Kaytan to obtain a health report from Kırıkkale Medical Faculty Hospital in order to be transferred to Sincan Prison. Although Kaytan went to the hospital twice, he was neither allowed to meet with doctors nor could his files was sent to the medical board.

SAME HOSPITAL, TWO DIFFERENT REPORTS

Kırıkkale Prison administration exiled Kaytan to Denizli Type D Closed Prison in 2012 without waiting for the medical board report. Kaytan, who was kept in solitary confinement in Denizli for 4 months, suffered from epileptic seizures due to brain surgery. Denizli State Hospital prepared a report that says Kaytan could not remain in prison alone, was taken to a ward for 3 people. However, in another report prepared by the same hospital in 2013, it was stated that "he could stay in prison conditions and lead his life alone".

TORTURE IN PRISON

As a result of intense efforts for Kaytan's treatment, he was transferred to Sincan No. 1  Type F Prison in 2014. Kaytan was tortured here. According to the statements  made by the lawyers to the press, Kaytan was threatened with battery by the prison director in front of the prosecutor.

During their visit to the prison, the lawyers shared that Kaytan was held in isolation for 15 days and was awakened by guards every 10 minutes to check if he was alive.

ISOLATION CONDITIONS

In his last letter to the Human's Rights Association (İHD), Kaytan explained that he lost consciousness while he was pacing up and down in his ward on July 31, 2021, and that his friends caught him before he hit his head. Although the doctors suspected that he had a heart condition, he explained that he had epileptic seizures from time to time, but he still could not learn why he had these seizures. Kaytan is still not taken to the infirmary except for being taken to the hospital.

'RELEASE THEM'

Kaytan's older sister, Gülşen Kandemir, said about her brother's situation, "My brother cannot maintain his life alone in prison alone. But the ATK reported that he could. There is a 60% disability report given by Numune Hospital. My brother cannot eat alone, cannot shave, cannot meet his daily needs. His toes are cut off, he has to wear special shoes. Even if my brother went out right now, he wouldn't be able to walk."

Reminding the deaths in prison, Kandemir said, “As families, we say, they cannot be treated in prison. It is inhumane for them to stay there alone. Release them so we can get them treated. I can take care of him outside. I want my brother released as soon as possible so that he can be treated in better conditions."

MA / Delal Akyüz